Michigan State University Athletics
Hockey Rings in New Year with Win
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
January 2, 1999
EAST LANSING, Mich. - After traveling 3,500 miles to Fairbanks, Alaska -- further than all of MSUs other road trips combined -- it was no surprise that the Spartans came out a little slow.
But after over 19 minutes of scoreless hockey, Shawn Horcoff broke through with a goal with 23 seconds remaining in the first period, starting the Spartans on the way to a 4-1 victory over Alaska Fairbanks.
Michigan State won the first of their three-game series against the Nanooks and improved to 14-3-2 overall (8-2-2 CCHA). UAF drops to 5-10-0 (4-9-0).
The Spartans escaped the 14-below-fairenheit game-time temperatures in the comforts of the Carlson Center. MSU outshot UAF 9-8 in the first period but coudnt get an advantage until Horcoffs late goal.
That marked the last five-on-five goal of the game, as Michigan State was able to take advantage of Fairbanks special teams, which are ranked 11th in the CCHA in both power play and penalty killing.
Rustyn Dolyny scored the first of his two goals on a short-handed breakaway at 15:10 of the second period.
Bryan Adams and Dolyny sandwiched power-play goals in the third period around a Nanook tally. Jeff McNeills four-on-four goal at the 17:37 mark spoiled Mike Gresls shutout bid, as the junior goaltender held an opponent scoreless into the third period for the second time in a row and the third time in his four starts this season.
Notes:
* The win broke a string of two years in a row in which MSU lost to UAF the next game after beating Michigan.
* MSU had two power-play goals for the third time this year and first time since Nov. 6 vs. Ohio State.
* MSU improved to 3-2 in New Year's Day games, playing on Jan. 1 for the first time since 1965.
* MSU has scored a short-handed goal in three of the last four games and now outscored opponents when they are on the power-play (seven MSU SHGs to six opponent PPGs).
* Mike Gresl improved to 4-0-0 this year with a 1.25 GAA and a .940 save percentage.
QUOTES:
RON MASON: "It wasnt pretty, but Im happy with two points, Im happy with two power-play goals and Im happy with a short-handed goal. It was a good special-teams effort tonight.
"I thought Mike Gresl had another strong game in the net and had we protected him a little better, he might have had a shutout tonight.
"Its not going to be easy to play six more periods. We just have to battle and hopefully stay ahead of this team, I think thats the key this weekend. If we can get the first goal, it means a lot.
"Rustyn was in the right place and finished. He did a nice job on the breakaway and did a nice job on the power play goal."
RUSTYN DOLYNY: "I thought our power-play had some good opportunities. We got a short-handed goal also and it always helps to capitalize on special teams opportunities.
"I felt a little bit dehydrated out there, I dont know what it was. We had a couple of good practices and I felt good this morning, but tonight it was a little sluggish getting going.
"I can see a little bit more passing going on on our line now that we have Joe (Goodenow) back. Its nice to see, and makes the game a bit easier."
MIKE GRESL: "I felt good, and there werent a lot of whistles early so I got in the flow. On that big ice it seems like you get a lot of long-range shots, which is nice, too. I got in a good flow and was really just having fun out there. I got a couple of good bounces and the D played well again.
"Fortunately we were able to get out of there with a win. I thought tonight would be the toughest one, getting everybody acclimated to hockey again and getting the bus legs out. Really from now on there are no excuses, we just have a couple of tough games to play.
"I feel comfortable out there now. It took me a couple of games to get in the swing of things, even though I thought I was comfortable before. Our D makes it so easy, too. They just work so hard and raise your confidence level so much. It was good to have Brody (Brandstatter) out there, too. We missed Kozy (Jeff Kozakowski, out with the flu), but Brody does a good job when hes out there."
